(UPDATED) Rochester Man -Tallest in the United States- Has Died
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A man who came to Rochester as a young boy to undergo treatment at the Mayo Clinic and became one of the city's most recognizable residents has died.
An obituary posted by Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home in Rochester says Igor Vovkovnskiy passed away on Friday. He was 38-years old.
Igor was born in Ukraine in 1982 and brought to Rochester to undergo treatment at the Mayo Clinic for a condition affecting the pituitary gland that had caused him to grow to around 6 feet tall by the time he arrived at age 7. When news of his plight became known, the Rochester community “adopted” Igor, with local residents, businesses, and organizations coming to his aid and helped by providing or funding a variety of services and customizations for his housing, transportation, clothing, and other needs.
As an adult, Igor became a celebrity and made numerous TV and movie appearances. His best-known movie role was in the comedy Hall Pass, a 2011 film that featured him throwing a punch at a character played by Jason Sudeikis. His enormous height, at just over 7 feet 8 inches, made him the tallest living person in the U.S.
His obituary says a memorial service for Igor will be held at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home on August 28th beginning at 2 PM. A visitation is scheduled for the hour preceding the service.
News Update: Mayo Clinic 2nd Quarter Fiscal Performance Set a New Record